Vehicle location indicator



April 21, 1953 F. s. FIELD 2,635,372

VEHICLE LOCATION INDICATOR Filed April 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l jrraf.5 f l ld,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 21, 1953 Filed April 15, 1947 F. S. FIELDVEHICLE LOCATION INDICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 yaw jbrresz j Edd,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 1953 F. s. FIELD VEHICLE LOCATION INDICATOR 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 15, 1947 fly. 9

DDDUUEIDEIDBDDEIUDUDEDISDEI 352 D ll sin! INVENTOR Forms? .5. Flild,

BY fiTiM/q A TORNEY Aprifl 21, 1953 F. s. FIELD 2,635,372

VEHICLE LOCATION INDICATOR Filed April 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mr fM,

(Ittomeg Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices that indicate the momentarygeographical location of vehicles such as automobiles, buses, streetcars etc. upon which they are operatively mounted.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a location indicatorwhich constantly and automatically shows the reasonably accurategeographical position of the vehicle on a ribbonshaped map.

Another object of the invention is to provide a location indicator inwhich the ribbon-shaped map is translated beneath a stationary hairlinewith a speed that is proportional to the speed of the vehicle on theroad.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a location indicatorin which a ribbonshaped map, having rows of perforations, is translatedby a toothed drum directly or indirectly positively driven from one roadcontacting wheel of the vehicle with a speed proportional to that of thevehicle on the road and the drum upon which the ribbon is wound is urgedrotatively ahead with a selectively variable frictional force so thatthe ribbon is reeled upon the drum under a pull, keeping it taut.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described in which a ribbon-shaped map is translated with aspeed proportional to the vehicles speed and coacts with light and soundproducing means for indicating the location of the vehicle on the mapand also that of predetermined points of interest or of anticipatabledanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a location indicator whichis positively driven by one wheel of the vehicle or by a devicepositively coupled to said wheel and has simple and efficient means forengagement, disengagement and setting of this drive relative to the mapon which the location of the vehicle is indicated.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described inwhich positive feeding means for the ribbon are connected to positivedriving means by a selectively releasable friction lock including adriving shaft having a shoulder at one end and a threaded portion,carrying a threaded knob, at the other for clamping the feeding sprocketwheel operatively to the driving shaft.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the type set forth whichis encased in a housing mounting two drums upon which a map carryingribbon is wound, said housing being equipped with a substantially convexguide extending between the drums for supporting, guiding andfrictionally retarding the ribbon, keeping it taut against the pull ofthe feeding means and that of the winding drum.

Another object is to provide for vehicles a location indicator encasedin a housing having attachment means for fixing it to the steeringcolumn of the vehicle and an aperture at its top sealed by a covercarrying guard means having suitably shaped edges to coact with thesubstantially convex guide of the housing for retaining the ribbonthereon and having electrical contact-, light-, and sound-meansassociated therewith for cooperation with perforations on said ribbonfor intermittently energizing and deenergizing them according to apredetermined plan embodied in the map carried by the ribbon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel ribbon-shapedroad map which will give the true indication of the momentary locationof the vehicle at all times and is provided with means cooperating withelectrical lightand sound-devices to call attention to predeterminedpoints of interest or of anticipated danger well in advance of reachingthe particular points.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a road indicatingdevice which will occupy very little space and which will be readilyadjustable so that any desired starting point may be brought inproximity to the window of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby thedifferences of diameters of the map web or ribbon may be automaticallycompensated for.

Still another object of the invention is to provide vehicles with alocation indicator by means of which driving through unfamiliarterritory is greatly facilitated.

I Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the typeset forth which is simple in its construction and arrangements,efficient and accurate in its operation, readily installed in anyvehicle and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereafterappear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device, the front coverhaving been removed to show the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, the top coverof the speed reducer housing having been removed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view showing the interior ofthe speed reducer housing and the gearing and belt drive mountedtherein, the rear wall of the housing having been removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational side view of the belt drivenpulley and connected brake shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of the device, the sidewall of the speed reducer housing being partially broken away to showthe elevational side view of the belt driven pulley, illustrated also inFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view on line 6-6 in Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a partial sectional view on line 'l'l in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device shown attached to thesteering wheel column of an automobile, drawn to a smaller scale.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the device after removing its cover.

Figure 1.0 is a fractional perspective view of the device showing itsupper portion.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of a portion of the ribbon-shaped mapdetached from the device.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of a portion of the ribbon shaped mapshowing a modified form of contactor device.

Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections of theelectrical contact-, light, and sound-means.

Referring now to the drawings, the housing i2 is provided withattachment means such as straps l3 and bolt M for fastening it tosuitable stationary parts of a vehicle such as the steering column l5shown in Figure 8. Cover l6 seals aperture 8f) at the top of housing 12in any suitable manner.

In housing 12 are rotatably mounted the driven drum [8 and the drivingdrum [9 upon which the map carrying ribbon 25! is wound. This mapcarrying ribbon or web 28 consists of a strip of suitable paper, film,plastics or similar electrically non-conducting material, each end ofwhich is fastened by known means (not shown) to one of the drums I8 andI9.

As best shown in Figure 11, the ribbon 20 is provided with equallyspaced perforations or slots 26 running on both sides close to the edgesin longitudinal direction and also with elongated apertures ll, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter described. On map carrying ribbon20 is shown a suitable portion of the road to be traveled by the vehicleprojected substantially in a line running longitudinally on the map.Besides the road important crossings, hills, bridges and other points ofinterest or of anticipated danger are indicated.

Ribbon 26 is passing from the driven drum 8 to the driving drum [9supported in between by a substantially convex guide 2| (that may haveat its central relatively small portion a fiat region) which is fastenedto, or integral with, the housing l2. The twin sprocket wheel 22 isrotatably mounted between drums l8 and i9.

As best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6 the wheel 22 has two sprocketportions 23 and 24 the teeth 25 of which engage the map 20 by itsperforations 25. The peripheries of the toothed portions 23 and 2d ofwheel 22 at the roots of teeth 25 are substantially tangential to thetop surface of guide 2! on which ribbon 23 is moving so that teeth 25register with the perforations 26 of map 26, and engage them properly.

The cover it is provided with a transparent window 2? made of glass orplastic through which the map 23 can be observed. Preferably at itsmiddle portion window 2'1 is equipped with a hairline 28 extendingacross the ribbon 20. Cover i3 is also provided with guards or ribs 23which, with suitable clearance to the substantially convex guide '21,are correspondingly shaped at their ends and slidingly engage the ribbon2i? adjacent to its longitudinal edges keeping the map in contact withthe sprocket wheel portions 23 and .2 3 and teeth 2-5 engaged with theperforations or slots 25.

The drive shaft 33 is supported rotatably but in axial direction fixedlyby the rear wall 3i of housing l2 and by .its front cover 32. The twinsprocket wheel 22 is freely rotatable on drive shaft 30 which has ashoulder 33 coacting with a suitable'face of the sprocket portion 23.The sprocket portion 2 3 has an aperture 36 in which is rotatably andslidingly accommodated spacer 35 which is rotatably mounted on driveshaft 38 the end portion 36 of which isthreaded, carrying a knob-shapednut '37. By tightening nut 31 on threaded drive shaft end 36 the knobengages spacer 35 and creates a pressure between itself, twin sprocketwheel 22, shoulder 33 and spacer 35 causing a tight frictionalconnection between the drive shaft 38 and the twin sprocket wheel 22. Icall this structure a friction lock.

As best shown 'in Figures '2 and 3, means are provided to operativelyand positively connect drive shaft Si! with a road contacting wheel ofthe vehicle (not shown). A preferable flexible shaft "ii? is operativelyconnected by gearing or other known means (not shown) directly, orindirectly through the speedometer or other device (not shown) to onewheel of the vehicle on which it travels.

A suitable speed reducer, generally denoted 4!, is interposed betweenthe shaft 46 and the driving shaft 36. This speed reducer may be of anyapproved type and is shown in the exemplary embodiment to consist of acoupling 2 connecting shaft iii to intermediate shaft 33 carryingrigidly the first worm d4 coacting with first worm gear 45 which iskeyed to shaft 36 that fixedly carries the second worm ll in mesh withsecond worm gear 48 that in turn is keyed to shaft 49 to which isrigidly attached the third worm 56 in mesh with third worm gear 5i fixedto the drive shaft 38. This drive shaft 30 carries also fixedly V-pulley52 which is operatively connected by an endless belt, such as a helicalspring belt 53, shown, with a V-pulley 5 that has a smaller diameterthan that of pulley 52 and is rigidly attached to shaft 55 mounted inhousing l2. Rigidly fixed to said shaft 55 is the driving drum l9. i

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the brake drum 56 is integral with, orrigidly secured to, pulley 54. The brake 51 is a threaded bar having ahead suitably shaped for hand operation for holding it in place whenscrewed into casing l2, radially to brake drum 56 so that the tip 58 ofbrake 51 engages the brake drum 56 with selectively variable pressure.

The metallic housing l2 and with it the guide 2| is electricallyconnected to the metallic mass of the vehicle, by the attachment meansclamping it to the steering post, such connection being better known asgrounding. As illustrated in the wiring diagram represented by Fig. 13,coming from a source of electric current (such as battery 8|), lead 60is connected through switch 6| to electric light bulb 62 carried by aninsulator 63 mounted on top cover IS; the second lead from this lightbulb 62 is grounded through spring 64 and guide 2|. Said contact spring64 impinges upon map carrying ribbon 20 (made of an electric insulatingmaterial) having longitudinal slots aligned with said spring '64 so thattheir longitudinal center planes coincide. These slots may be locatedsuitably ahead of predetermined points of interest or danger.

Parallelly connected to light bulb 62 is an electric buzzer 65, which ispreferably also mounted on cover US by insulator 61 and connectedthrough switch 68 to lead 60, while its second lead is electricallyconnected to the mass of the vehicle or ground. Light bulb 62 ispreferably colored.

It will be understood that the slots shown on map 20 (Figure 11) couldbe eliminated and replaced by short metallic wire staples 59, such ascommonly used for attaching two or more papers together and shown inFigure 12 of the drawings, or other similar metallic contacts. Theaction of the staples 59 are identical with that of slots IT.

A second light bulb 69 is connected through switch to lead 60. Whenswitch 10 is closed the light bulb 69 is energized and throws sufficientlight on ribbon-shaped map 20 to be clearly legible to the observerthrough the window 21.

Drums I8 and I9 have suitable apertures 65 (Figure 1) which cooperatewith pins H of knob 12 (Figure 7) rotatably mounted in operativelycoacting position in front cover 13 of housing l2 (Figures 2 and 9),fastened by any suitable means.

The device operates as follows:

The ribbon 20 has illustrated or printed thereon a map of the road,shown to be substantially in a line lengthwise to ribbon 20, on whichthe car is traveling; At the start, the top cover |B is removed and theribbon-shaped map 25 inserted upon drums l8 and I9, over guide 2| andtwin sprocket wheel 22, so that teeth 25 engage the slots 26 of theribbon 20. Then cover it is replaced, switch 1!! is closed so that thelight bulb 69 illuminates the ribbon 2|] which will be now set tocorrespond to actual location of the vehicle. For this purpose knob 31is somewhat unscrewed so that it releases spacer 35 and drum 22 frombeing connected by friction to drive shaft 30.

Ribbon 2|] can now be wound freely on drums l8 and !9 by turning thecorresponding knobs l2 clockwise or 14 counterclockwise, the pins 1| ofthe knob 12 engaging the drum |8. Spring belt 53 will slide withpermissible friction on V-pulley 54, the brake drum 56 of which willslide in contact with end portion 58 of brake 51. Strip 2!! will beadjusted so that the hairline 28 points to the actual location of thestanding car on the road mapped on ribbon 26. The ratio between thevehicle wheel from which the shaft 40 transmits the motion to driveshaft 3|] is such that it corresponds to the scale of the map shown onribbon 20 so that for each mile traveled by the car on the road therespective distance with which the ribbon 20 is moved under the hairline 28 scales one mile. It will be understood that the map of the roadis shown in one direction running lengthwise of the ribbon so that withthe proper ratio of speed reduction between the car wheel and the driveshaft 30 of the device, the sprocket portions 23 and 24, and with themthe ribbon 20 will be moved by such speed that corresponds to the actualspeed of the car so that the hair line 28 will point always to the carsactual location on map 20.

To effect the frictional locking of shaft 30 to the flexible shaft 40,the knob 31 is tightened thereon with suflicient force which looks thetwin sprocket wheel 22 between the shoulder 33 and the knob 31 on shaft30. When the vehicle travels drive shaft 30 with toothed twin sprocketwheel 22 is rotated with proper speed to move the ribbon under the hairline 28 so that the latter points always out the actual position on theroad no matter Whether the car moved forward or backward. The crosswaytravel of the car is negligible compared to that in forward directionhence will cause only negligible error.

It will be noted that the wheel pulley 52 has greater diameter than thatof the driven pulley 54 which is rigidly connected to shaft 55 to whichdriving drum I9 is fixed. The effect of this will be that the drum I9will tend to rotate with greater speed than that of the twin sprocketwheel 22, consequently ribbon 20 will be always pulled toward thedriving drum l9 and will be kept taut. This pull and resulting tensilestress can be regulated by brake 51. Screwing brake 51 tighter towardbrake drum 56 the pulley 54 and with it drum I9 is retarded by africtional force on brake drum 56 acting against the frictional forceoperating between belt 53 and pulley 54. As a result belt 53 will slipon pulley 54 and ribbon 20 will be pulled by lesser force. By releasingthe brake 51 somewhat the friction and its braking effect on drum 56will diminish and belt 53 will be more effective in driving the drum [9and pulling ribbon 20 which will be stressed with greater force. Theunwinding drum |8 is retarded by friction of its shaft in its bearingswhich will furnish a sufficient retarding force to keep the unwindingside of ribbon 20 sufficiently taut on substantially convex guide 2|which tautness is further promoted by contact with guards 29 and byfriction with the guide 2| on which the ribbon-shaped map 20 is sliding.

The magnitude of the frictional retarding force of arcuate guide 2| uponribbon 20 can be best appreciated by treating it as the frictionalresistance of a belt on a drum or pulley here represented by thestationary arcuate guide 2|.

As well known in mechanical engineering the frictional resistance W of abelt, rope or band on a drum is mathematically expressed (see (Marks:Mechanical Engineers Handbook, second edition, page 250) W:(e -1)t wheree:2'718, the base of the Naperian system of logarithms; fzthe frictionalcoefficient between the band and the pulley;

0, --=the angle subtending the arc 360 of contact, in radians 2| (wherethe value of b is positive) willexert a positive frictional force W thatwill keep the ribbon 2G taut, while straight plane guides (where the,19:0, e l and W:O) will cause no such tautness in ribbon 20.

Having fully disclosed my invention and described and illustrated apreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various changesand modifications may be made in the combined structures by those versedin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,hence I do not intend to be limited by this exemplary embodiment, butwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: In avehicle location indicator having a ribbon map positively driven by atoothed feed roll between two drums, the improvement in windingmechanisms comprising an apron supporting the ribbon'map, said apronhaving openings through which the teeth of the feed roll project toengage the ribbon map, holding means extending over the ribbon map andapron at the point where the feed rolls engage the map and at a levelbelowthe top of the feed roll teeth whereby the map is retained on thefeed roll teeth, a pulley on said toothed feed roll, a second pulley, ofsmaller diameter on the drum upon which the ribbon map is wound,frictional belt means connecting 8 said pulleys tending to rotate thewind-up drum at a peripheral speed in excess of the toothed feed rollwhereby tension is produced in the ribbon map, a brake drum mounted onsaid wind-up drum and adjustable drum retarding means mounted adjacentto and acting on the brake drum whereby the effect of the frictionaldrive on the wind-up drum may be varied to control the tension on theribbon map.

FORREST S. FIELD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

